[this8384]

I received a speeding ticket in Big Cabin, OK approximately 3 weeks ago. The officer said he clocked me traveling 65 in a 45; I know this is untrue because when my radar detector went off, I was already in a 55 zone with my cruise set at 60. The officer took my license, ran it, and came back to my vehicle. Before explaining anything, the officer asked me to step out of the vehicle and come to the back with him(My husband was in the vehicle and is a witness to this). When I went to the back of my vehicle, the officer said he had issued me a citation for speeding. He then told me that because of an interstate compact that my state had not joined, I needed to pay my citation right there on the spot in cash. I told him I didn't have $145 in cash but that I could write him a check. He told me he couldn't accept a check because I might stop payment, and repeated that I needed to pay my ticket in cash or I was going to go to jail.

At this point, my husband opened his door at this point and asked me what was going on. I went back to our vehicle and explained to him what the officer was telling me, then returned to the officer. My husband immediately contacted Oklahoma State Patrol who transferred him to that county's department. When he explained the situation to the person at the county, they told my husband that an officer is not allowed to take cash for a ticket. They also asked for the officer's name and said they had actually fired an officer recently for accepting cash for tickets.

Eventually, the officer allowed me to sign a document stating I would be present in court for my ticket in August(which he never gave me a copy of) and let me continue on the road.

I was just going to pay the ticket and leave it alone, but I learned this morning that Big Cabin was prohibited from issuing traffic citations for 6 months back in 2005 because they had earned over 72% of their revenue from those citations. I also learned that every speeding ticket issued by Big Cabin averages about 18 mph over the "posted" speed limit. Considering that I know I wasn't speeding and that this officer spent half an hour demanding cash from me, what steps should I take next? I am going to contact the OK Dept. of Public Safety Commissioner and talk to him about this. Any advice on who else to contact?

[ScottGem]

Highway patrol HQ and state DMV.

[Fr_Chuck]

State attorney generals office,

It will cost more to fight the ticket but get it moved out of city court to the state court

[excon]

Hello this:

Did he go back into the doughnut shop after he tried to screw you? Proly.

excon

[twinkiedooter]

You also need to contact the Clerk of Court to see what day your speeding ticket court appearance date is scheduled for. If you don't pay the ticket before that date in Aug or don't show up for court, guess what - you're going to have a bench warrant out for you and you will have much more headache involved with THAT then a piddly speeding ticket anyday. I'd pay the $145 ticket ASAP if I were you and THEN once the court date is taken off the court calendar because you paid the ticket - THEN call and report their shiny metal behinds to everybody who will sit still and listen to what they are STILL doing there in Big Cabin. Sometimes being right is not always the thing to do. First make sure they get the ticket hearing off the court calendar... I would not trust them one iota unless I had a cancelled check and a receipt from the Clerk's office stating that the ticket was taken care of seeing as how they like to mess with people.

Ex-I'll bet he went back to the donut shop he owns...

[smearcase]

You will be able to say in court " The officer lied when he said I had to pay him cash and he lied when he said I was going x mph".

[this8384]

I put in a call to the DPS and I was transferred to a gentleman who used to be employed by the highway patrol. He told me to contact the DA for the county where I was issued the ticket and to also file a complaint against the officer with his department so they can investigate if indeed there was any criminal activity.

Twink- I already know about bench warrants and so forth. As for the ticket, I can't fight it once it's paid.

[this8384]

I contacted the city prosecutor who agreed to keep the ticket off my record as long as I paid the fine, which is better than nothing I suppose. Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer!

[ScottGem]

Get it in writing!!

[this8384]

I just got the signed fax today from the attorney stating the ticket won't be on my record. Thanks Scott; I should have thought of that on my own... it's been a long month *lol*